Improvement in horse-cleaners



Witnesses KWW 456W M. P. WASHBURN. Horse-Gleaner.

Patented April 23, 1878.

jnvenzor:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MARTIN P. WASHBURN, OF KINGSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF ANDCHARLES H. DREW, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN HORSE-CLEANERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 202,769, dated April23, 1878; application filed January 22, 1678.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MARTIN P. WASHBURN, of Kingston, Plymouth county, inthe State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements relating to Horse- Gleaners, of which the following is aspecification:

I take a long thin plate of hard brass, and attach convenient handles,one to each end, in line with the plate. I also form a series of notchesalong one edge, corresponding to sawteeth, but longer and less sharp.By'taking the device with the two hands-onehold of each handle-theflexibility of the metal strip allows it to be bent and twisted into agreat number of curves and contortions, allowing it to be convenientlyand rapidly fitted to and passed over all the parts of the body and neckof a horse. The extremities of the limbs should be cleaned by othermeans.

The toothed edge may be used at first, and the other edge, which is leftsmooth, may be applied afterward. In most cases either side and eitheredge may be used indiscriminately. The device should be provided at oneor both ends with means for hanging it up.

The accompanying drawing is a perspective view of the device. The stronglines show it bent for one condition, and the dotted lines for another.

Referring to the drawing, A is the plate, and athe toothed edge thereof.B B are handles; O O, rivets, and D D rings screwed in the ends, toserve in suspending it to a nail.

The device, used with its toothed edge presented either squarely or atvarious oblique angles to the skin of the animal, serves in lieu of theordinary curry-comb, with the advantage not only of being able to cleanlarger surfaces at once, but also of being more rapidly freed from hairsand dirt. It never clogs; or if it does, a slight backward movement,with the device presented obliquely to the skin, instantly cleans it. Itis particularly useful in cleaning horses and cattle when they areshedding their hair.

Modifications may be made in the proportions. Both edges may be toothed.The material may be steel or other sufficiently strong and elasticmaterial in a thin narrow plate; but I prefer spring-brass, about N o.20, with a width of one and a half inch, and a length of sixteen inches,besides the handles.

I claim as my invention-- The combination of the flexible plate A,having a toothed edge, a, with the rigidlyconnected handles B B, asherein specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my name in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

MARTIN P. WASHBURN.

Witnesses:

ALDEN S. BRADFORD, LYDIA S. BRADFORD.

